Woke up at 5:45 but got a bit more sleep. Spine was annoying me. Up at 7:00. Had a very slow start. They got my order right at Maccas though which was useful (it helped that they were a lot less rushed). Didn't get out the door til 10:00.
Maccas brekky
First up, we dropped all our laundry off at the local laundry. $120HKD for the both of us - a bit pricey, but saved us having to do it ourselves in the hotel sink.
Then we went on a bit of a train adventure - three different trains to get to Kowloon Bay.
Stopped at a Starbucks so the sweetie could have a coffee.
Then we jumped on a #86 green bus down to Kai Tak. They've converted the old runway into a passenger terminal for cruise ships. But there's also a little park at the end of the runway, the approach checkerboard is still there, and there's a "remnant" of runway 13 - a stylised mosaic of the 13 that used to be there.
Model paper plane with history of Kai Tak airport
Buildings in Kwun Tong
Stu reading about the airport history
Oriental Dragon
Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
Checkerboard for the approach for runway 31
Looking north-west along the path of the old runway
The 13 (which was actually located at the other end of the runway)
Pearl of Oriental dinner cruise ship
We stopped so Stu could do a drawing of the view
You can also go up on top of the passenger terminal where they have a rooftop garden. Sadly they don't let you get anywhere near the edge, so not great for unobstructed views of Hong Kong.
Control tower of the cruise terminal
Looking down the length of the cruise terminal
The garden prevents you getting close to the edge to take photos
The garden and view
Looking towards the ICC
Hong Kong from the cruise terminal
Back on a #86 minibus back to the station.
Took another train up to Lok Fu where we stopped and had some lunch at a Japanese place.
Then into Lok Fu Park to try and get to the top of Checkerboard Hill. This was where they had a checkerboard painted onto the side of a water reservoir which was part of the approach to the old Kai Tak airport. Pilots had to head for this hill and make a visual sighting of it before making the sharp right turn down to the runway. I'd hoped to be able to get on top of it and see down to the old runway, but there were too many fences and trees in the way for a good view. So that was a bit of a waste of a very steep climb up a lot of steps (sorry sweetie!).
Tin Hau Temple, Lok Fu Park
Looking up towards Lion Rock
The edge of the water reservoir - the checkboard is right below this
This is the best view I could get looking towards the old airport, and you can't really see it
We went down then to get some photos of the front of it. There's a lot of trees in the way and it hasn't been maintained in sixteen years so it's not as pretty as it used to be.
Checkerboard hill from below
Checkerboard hill from below
Checkerboard hill with Lion Rock in the background
Then we walked down to Kowloon Walled City Park to have a wander around. There's some interesting photos and information boards about the place, and one of the original fortress buildings - the Yamen - is still there. Quite interesting.
Wall of Kowloon Walled City
Entrance gates to Kowloon Walled City
Kowloon Walled City Park
Kowloon Walled City Park
Kowloon Walled City Park
Kowloon Walled City Park
Bonsai in Kowloon Walled City Park
Kowloon Walled City Park
Model of Kowloon Walled City Park
Yamen (Almshouse) in the model
Yamen (Almshouse)
Yamen (Almshouse)
Yamen (Almshouse)
Yamen (Almshouse)
Kowloon Walled City Park
Remants of the South Gate
South Gate plaque and Kowloon Walled City plaque
Then another three trains back to the hotel (after we picked up our laundry).
We got back to the hotel a bit after 18:00 completely exhausted. Sat down for a while before going to get some supplies and meat on a stick for dinner.
Meat on a stick!
Charging station - three phones and a battery
In bed just after 20:00.